An Alert to Action: The Lights are Going Out at USCIRF

An Alert to Action: The Lights are Going out at USCIRF

I am Jerry Gordon, senior editor at the New English Review.
I'm alerting you to the likelihood that The US Commission on International Religious Freedom could have its light turned out on November 18th, because of one US Senator opposed to its re-authorization, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin. USCIRF has a budget of less than $3.0 million annually; Its re-authorization has already been approved by the US House.
How effective is USCIRF? Take the case of freedom from Islamic slavery in the Sudan.
It was the efforts of the USCIRF that convinced the Bush Administration to negotiate a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 that led to the independence of the new Republic of South Sudan in July, 2011. That freed millions of Christians and Animists from Islamic slavery.
There also have been allegations that the Saudis have lobbied Capitol Hill and the Obama White House attempting to kill the reauthorization of USCIRF. Did they somehow get through to Sen. Durbin?
Here's what USCIRF Commissioner Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute Center for Religious Freedom suggests that you can do:
USCIRF hasn't flinched in taking a hard look at religious persecution and the lack of freedom in Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. What can Americans do? It is very urgent that they press their senators to reauthorize it. Reauthorizing means renewing its mandate. To preserve this official government voice for bedrock American freedoms of religion and liberty -- which serves both our values and our interests in today's globalized world -- Americans should email or call their senators requesting the reauthorization of USCIRF.

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